Home Page

Tarleton officials closely monitoring coronavirus

Tarleton officials are monitoring the coronavirus, with the safety of the university family —students, faculty and staff — the highest priority. Currently, there are no confirmed cases in Texas and only five in the United States.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), human coronaviruses are most commonly spread by:

• coughing, sneezing and close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
• touching an object or surface that has the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands
• through fecal contamination, although this is rare.

Tarleton follows the protocols established by the CDC.

Student Health Director Bridgette Bednarz recommends exercising the same hygiene precautions as with other infectious diseases, such as the flu. Washing your hands frequently with antibacterial soap is an important preventive measure. Hand sanitizers can be found throughout the campus.

The university and The Texas A&M University System are monitoring proposed sponsored travel to any restricted area. As part of its emergency management plan, Tarleton also has procedures in place to contain a breakout of any infectious disease.

Following are answers to common questions concerning the coronavirus.

What are the symptoms?

Fever, severe headache, runny nose, cough, sore throat and a general feeling of being unwell. Symptoms may appear up to 14 days after exposure. Recovery depends on supportive care and the patient’s immune response.

Who is at risk?

• Anyone who has traveled from Wuhan City or Hubei Province, China, to the United States in the past 21 days.
• Healthcare workers who have had contact with the blood or body fluids of sick patients or with medical equipment, syringes or other items that may have had such contact.

What should I do if I have symptoms associated with the coronavirus?

• Students should call Student Health Services at 254-968-9271, email Student Health Director Bridgette Bednarz at bednarz@tarleton.edu or contact their personal physician.
• Faculty and staff should call their physician or healthcare provider.
• Remain at home and avoid going anywhere until you receive further guidance, to minimize risk to others.
• Standard university procedures for employee and student absences will be followed once you are cleared to return to work or class.

What should I do if I have been in contact with someone who has been exposed to symptoms?

• Call Student Health Services to report the contact. Staff will route the information to the proper public health agencies and ensure that appropriate follow-up occurs.

I had planned to travel to regions affected by the outbreak. Should I still go?

• The CDC and the U.S. State Department have released advisories restricting travel to China. More information is at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/novel-coronavirus-china.

For more details, visit the CDC website, www.cdc.gov.